Luis Figo in Macau
In celebration of the 25th Anniversary of the Establishment of the Macau Special Administrative Region, SJM Resorts, S.A. (SJM) proudly presents the "SJM Five-a-side Football Friendly: Portugal Icons vs. GBA Flying Dragon." Scheduled for 19 May at 4:00 p.m. at the Macau East Asian Games Dome, the event is jointly organised with the Sports Bureau of the Macau SAR Government, with technical support provided by the Macau Football Association.
Tickets will be available for purchase starting 10:00 a.m. on 23 April. A press conference was held today at the Grand Lisboa Palace Resort Macau (Grand Lisboa Palace), attended by Mr. Pun Weng Kun, President of the Sports Bureau of the Macau SAR Government; Ms. Daisy Ho, Managing Director of SJM; Mr. Lai Pak Leng, President of the Administrative Board of Macau Football Association; alongside Manager from GBA Flying Dragon: Mr. Natalis Chan and Mr. Chan Chi Hong.
The press conference introduced details of the five-a-side football friendly match and announced the planned arrival of renowned football stars from Portugal, including Luis Figo, Pauleta, Nuno Gomes, Dimas, Maniche, Bosingwa, Tiago, Helder Postiga, Ricardo Quaresma and more.
They will engage in a friendly match with GBA Flying Dragon, a team consisting of football players from the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and Hong Kong All Stars Sports Association, including Natalis Chan, Eddie Ng, Frankie Lam, Eddie Cheung, Danny Chan, Chan Chi Hong, Leslie George Santos, Wong Chin Hung, Chan Tat Sun, Geofredo Cheung, Wu Qunli, Hu Zhijun and Lu Lin, in full demonstration of "Sports + Tourism" dynamism of Macau. The Portugal players greeted fans from Macau through videos, while Mr. Natalis Chan and Mr. Chan Chi Hong shared their eager anticipation at the press conference.
Ms. Daisy Ho, Managing Director of SJM, expressed her excitement, "On the joyous occasion of the 25th anniversary of the Macau SAR and the 45th anniversary of Sino- Portuguese diplomatic relations, we leverage Macau's pivotal role as a cultural nexus between China and Portugal to bring about this friendly match and celebrate the silver jubilee of the Macau SAR.
SJM has always attached great importance to the development of sports culture in Macau. In addition to promoting a variety of sports activities, we will continue to leverage 'Sports + Tourism' to enrich the SAR's tourism landscape and facilitate the diversified development of our tourism and leisure industry, to bolster our reputation as a 'City of Sports,' and to attract more overseas visitors to Macau."
Mr. Pun Weng Kun, President of the Sports Bureau of the Macau SAR Government, stated, "Since the establishment of the Macau SAR, the city has actively served as a vital bridge in Sino-Portuguese cooperation. Both sides fostered robust economic and cultural exchanges, especially on Sino-Portuguese sports exchanges, leveraging Macau's role as a nexus connecting China and Portuguese-speaking countries.
With the city's festive atmosphere, this event will further strengthen the connections and exchanges in the realm of sports among Macau, the Greater Bay Area, and Portugal. By building a cooperation platform through large-scale sports events and collaborative sports exchange activities, the goal is to promote the development of the sports industry, leverage the synergies of major sports events, stimulate the growth of Macau's sports industry, and drive economic development in sports tourism and related sectors."
An Array of Fun Activities and Prizes
Gearing up for the event, SJM will host a variety of sideline activities at the outdoor plaza of the Ponte 16 Resort from 1 to 7 May and 11 to 12 May. These activities include large-scale football themed games, exclusive merchandise booths and football-themed photo opportunities, offering participants the chance to win coveted match tickets. SJM's beloved mascot, "Sam the Rooster," will also be dressed as a football referee, making appearances to capture memorable moments with visitors.
The array of activities is designed to promote community excitement under a carnival atmosphere. During the match day, audiences can look forward to a football game zone, limited merchandise stalls, food booths, and photo spots set up on-site to enhance the overall sports event experience for football enthusiasts. Additionally, SJM will host fan meetings, an island-wide open-top bus tour, youth football clinic, limited-edition commemorative merchandises and themed dining options, further immersing Macau residents and visitors in the fervor of football.
Exclusive Travel Packages for Worldwide Football Fans
To fully engage overseas football fans in this one-of-a-kind sports event, SJM is pleased to introduce "SJM Football Match Packages," starting from MOP 3,788++, with check- in dates from 18 to 19 May, including a two-night stay in a Deluxe Room at Grand Lisboa Palace Macau, daily buffet breakfast for two at The Grand Buffet, and two match tickets. Starting from MOP 7,588++, guests are welcome to enjoy a two-night stay in a Junior Suite at Grand Lisboa Palace Macau, daily buffet breakfast for two at The Grand Buffet, two VIP area match tickets, exclusive access for two to the Welcome Dinner for players, and limousine services.
The travel packages are available for booking from 23 April on the official website of Grand Lisboa Palace, and through Ctrip, Trip.com, Agoda, Fliggy, Meituan and designated travel agents.
Tickets on Sale to the Public
Tickets will open for public sale on 23 April at MacauTicket.com, price from MOP188. Tickets will also be available for purchase at The Gift Shop of Grand Lisboa Palace, and soon on Cityline (Hong Kong), Damai and Trip.com.
MacauTicket.com: 24-hour ticket hotline (853) 2855 5555 or at: www.macauticket.com
Cityline (Hong Kong): https://www.cityline.com/Events.html
Damai: https://www.damai.cn
Trip.com: https://www.trip.com